Not as in making up syllables and putting them together- but, would you choose a word name that you’ve never heard of, or stick to those already established by celebrities?
Asking because I have a tendency to hear a word and get lost in all its connotations, like Laika or Mountain or Ballet, then realize that they’re not names.
edit: is there a way for me to move this to the name talk board? I just realized that it would be more appropriate there.
Personally I like names with meaning, depth and history so making one up for myself doesn’t really interest me. The pool of names is already enormous and I’m sure that anyone can find something unique that appeals to them. Yes, sounds of names are important but it shouldn’t be the only reason to choose a name.
Maybe for a middle, but not for a first. I think it’s a little selfish of a parent, as a name doesn’t belong to you it belongs to your child. I understand the desire, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.
I like the thought of my child having a unique name that belongs to no one but them, but I would still want it to sound like a name. A couple that my fiance and I have been throwing around: Kyella or Kylinna.
Sure, if the name I made up was AMAZING and somehow had meaning to me.
Yes. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with inventing names, as long as they’re not spelled in a overly complicated way.
Go big or go home. Someone had to be first. What’s a huge red flag for me are the boring names that often make the most popular names by the decade that the Social Security puts out. [name]One[/name], I live in Los [name]Angeles[/name]. Two, I’m a former teacher. You’d have to really describe your daughter named [name]Sarah[/name] or [name]Samantha[/name] for me but I will more quickly remember a girl named Pageant whose grandmother was a model. If you’re going to go for a word name it has to have meaning like a boy named Towner whose father was an architect. The tyranny of traditional needs to be revolutionized. Once the universe gave me Latino sibset students named [name]Bolivar[/name] and [name]Guevara[/name]. Ask yourself how unique or cliched do you want that name of your child’s on that diploma or wedding announcement.
I probably would never. I mean, I couldn’t let my child walk around with the name Grass because I thought it sounded pretty. Besides, [name]Mischa[/name] makes a great point, there are already so many names out there without having to resort to making up your own.
I suppose something like “Mountain” wouldn’t be that bad. Afterall, at some point some person must have decided that “[name]Snow[/name]” would make a good name. Or that “[name]Wren[/name]” would make a good name and now those are widely accepted names.
Never.
What is especially weird is when parents put both of their names together to “create” a name (ex: [name]Stephanie[/name] + [name]Darin[/name] = Daranie)
I love word names tho (mostly nature ones, but I love [name]Fable[/name]). I don’t see anything wrong with word names unless it’s something completely inappropriate.
I was thinking the other day that Islet would be a nice alternative to the popularity of [name]Isla[/name], with the nice image of a little island… but it was too similar to [name]Iris[/name] for us…
I think people here would still raise eyebrows at ‘snow’. I would’t call it widely accepted at all.
I don’t see the point in making up names unless you’re writing a fantasy novel. If you want something unusual why not spend some time looking for an unusual name that already exists? There are thousands of names out there, there’s bound to be one you like.
I would use an unpopular word name after a bit of research, maybe a nameberry poll on the specific name, a lot of careful consideration.
I was really excited about the name Vivid. I thought it was spunky & sweet, I could imagine it on a Puritan girl so that was enough “history” for me, it seemed like likable way to honor [name]David[/name] if I had a daughter…but a bit of research & some [name]Berry[/name] comments let me know it’s also the name of an adult film company!!
Words that are unique as names could be fairly common as businesses, they could have a very different feeling to people other than you so it’s important to think of multiple perspectives when picking a name like this, consider if the word itself is familiar to most people or if it’s obscure & confusing or difficult to pronounce, is the sound beautiful itself without the meaning? There’s a lot to consider.
What I usually suggest, and would HIGHLY suggest in this case, is take that weird name like Ballet or Grass and go to a Starbucks or some other place where they shout out your name, use it and then see how the people react (won’t work unless you pick a place that’s full of people) or see how you feel. You might realize you’re just not comfortable having the barista call out “Ballet” or if you are, you might not like the way people react. They might see it as a joke and laugh or they might be pleasantly surprised, you never know, but I can guarantee you me and my friends would likely think they were dared to use such a name and laugh.
Basically if it’s a name you wouldn’t feel comfortable having, then you shouldn’t give it to your child.